A FORMER civilian police worker faces a possible jail sentence after being convicted of impersonating a police officer.

Mark Walton, aged 19, of Greencourt Drive, Little Hulton, produced a bulletproof vest and play-acted into a walkie-talkie to persuade three schoolgirls to take him to the home of a 13-year-old girl he had a "sexual interest" in.

He had denied impersonating a police officer but was convicted following a week-long trial at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.

He also denied three counts of kidnap in relation to the girls and was unanimously acquitted by the jury.

Walton had previously worked as a police community support officer, dealing with minor matters such as dog fouling.

Prosecutor Miss Susan Klonin said: "He was not a policeman, he had no authority as a policeman, he was not permitted to dress as a policeman or pass himself off as such."

He had pretended to be a policeman when the 13-year-old girl he wanted to go out with told him he was too old and refused to take his calls.

Judge Adrian Smith, bailing Walton for pre-sentence reports, told him: "You have been found guilty of impersonating a police officer in unusual circumstances. All options remain open to the court."